Basket liner or the like



Mam-ch W, 1936. w. .J. MISKELLA BASKET LINER OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 14, 1934 7 2 J2me??? I]m"m"I""mlllllIlllllllllllllnm um-v Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-"ici:

BASKET LINER. on THE LIKE William J. Miskella, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to Mid-States Gummed Paper 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 14,

1934, Serial No. 711,236

8 Claims. (01. 217-3) This invention relates to a basket liner or the like. The liner is particularly useful in the packing of apples, other fruits, and vegetables, etc.

It has been the practice for many years to use a paper liner which fits within a temporary metal shell to serve as a temporary support or mold for packing fruits, vegetables, etc. When the liner is filled, the basket or permanent container is slipped over the outside of the liner and the liner is turned up so that the fruit which was on the bottom of the liner now appears at the top of the basket, the temporary metal shell having been removed. The basket is then dropped or jolted to force the fruit contents against the liner wall so as to break it. This leaves the fruit in the desired position within the basket. In the above practice, it has been found that the dropping or jolting of the basket or container tends to bruise some of the fruit and causes spoiling or decaying.

The primary purpose of my invention is to provide a liner equipped with elastic bonding means which provides an expanding joint. Such a joint not only permits the liner to accommodate itself to .the container, but also serves to yield gradually under the weight of the fruit to separate the ends of the liner. The expanding joint permits the apples or other fruit to settle gently within the basket without bruising. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a liner embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken enlarged side view of the ends of a modified form of liner; and Fig. 3, a View similar to Fig. 2 of another modified form of liner.

In the illustration given in Fig. 1, H] designates a liner body which may be formed of fabric or any suitable paper such as, for example, heavy cardboard, chipboard, laminated paper, treated papers, etc. The body It is provided with overlapping ends it and [2. The shape of the body I may be as illustrated in Fig. 1, or as required for any particular basket or container. Normally, the liner will be creased at a point substantially diametrically opposed to the free end I2 and shipped in such folded condition, the edge I l extending beyond the free edge l2 to form an attachment fiap. If desired, the body Iii may be provided with apertures l3 of any suitable size or shape.

In order to provide an expanding joint, I form on the inner surface of flap I I, and on the outer border edge of end 12, bonding materials of latex, rubber or other suitable elastic materials. In the illustration given, I have provided at each endof the border strip [2, a spot [4 of such a bonding material, and on the inner side of flap H, a spot l5 of bonding material. It will be noted that the spot M'is much larger than spot l5 so that the circumference of the liner can be adjusted depending upon the point at which spot 95 is pressed against spot i4. As a bonding material, I prefer to employ an elastic material Which has little or no attraction for paper or fabric, but which has great cohesive strength. For this purpose, I find that treated latex, latex -composition, latex compounds, etc. are satisfactory. When the latex is applied to the liner borders to form the spots l4 and I5, the liquid attaches itself firmly to the paper. However, after drying, the latex will not stick to the fabric or paper, but when the spots l4 and I5 are brought together, they form a tenaciously cohesive bond. The liners may therefore be shipped in stacks and in folded condition without any tendency of the spots to stick to adjoining sheets. Before the liners are placed in position, the free ends may be adjusted quickly to the proper size, and then securely locked together by pressing the spots l4 and I5 against each other. The liner may then be filled and turned Within the basket. The pressure of the fruit will tend to expand the latex bond and separate the free ends of the liner, the yielding character of the bond permitting the fruit to gently settle into position.

The areas of latex may be varied in size to give the desired strength and capacity to yield under predetermined pressures. To aid in folding the liners, the Walls may be scored at the desired points.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 2, I have provided lacquer, glue, or other protective coatings I6 and I! to protect the paper against injury. The bands l6 and ll of suitable protective material are first applied to the paper and then the spots 18 and 19 applied. When the liner is later expanded to break the elastic bond, the layers l6 and I! protect the paper from being torn so that the break in every instance occurs in the latex bond itself.

.In Fig. 3, another form of protective means is employed. Paper strips 20 and 2| are glued to the ends l2 and II and the latex spots 22 and 23 applied to the strips 20 and 2|. It will be understood that many other means for protecting the paper from tearing may be substituted for the illustrative means shown. For example, the paper may be embossed or treated in other ways to protect the immediate areas upon which the latex spots are formed. When cloth fabric is used, instead of paper, it may be desirable to omit the protective substrata layers.

In applying the latex to the free ends of the liner body It), the bonding material may be applied by roller transfer, spraying, brushing, pinprintingthat is by bringing a pin or pins having latex on its ends into contact with the paper through capillary attractionand the spots may be of various shapes and sizes. If desired, the spots may be of the same size although, for the purpose of adjustability, I prefer to employ spots of different sizes.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

I claim:

1. A liner for baskets etc. comprising: a fabric wall having overlapping end portions, bonding spots on each of said end portions adapted to be brought into contact, said bonding material having very little attraction for the fabric but having great cohesive force when brought together.

2. A liner for baskets etc. comprising: a fabric wall having overlapping ends, and a rubber bond securing said ends together and providing an expanding joint.

3. A liner for baskets etc. comprising: a fabric wall having edge portions adapted to be brought into overlapping position, treated, cohesive latex areas on the adjacent edge portions of said ends 5. A liner for baskets etc. comprising: a paper wall having overlapping end portions and treated, cohesive latex spots adjacent the ends of said end portions and on the adjacent surfaces thereof so that when said latex spots are brought together, an elastic bond is provided adjacent the ends of said end portions.

6. A liner for baskets etc. comprising: a paper wall having free ends adapted to be brought into overlapping relation, aligned treated, cohesive latex areas on the contacting surfaces of said overlapping edge portions, and means for protecting paper in those areas to which the latex is applied.

'7. A liner for baskets etc. comprising: a paper wall having overlapping free ends, protective paper strips secured to the adjacent faces of said overlapping ends, and treated, cohesive latex areas on said strips and adapted to be brought together to join said protective strips.

8. A liner for baskets etc. comprising: a fabric wall having free ends adapted to be brought into overlapping relation and aligned latex areas on the adjacent surfaces of said overlapping ends.

WILLIAM J. MISKELLA. 

